House of Chains [Jun 29, 2018]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for House of Chains by Steven Erikson starting June 29, 2018.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Get ready for a lot of Karsa Orlong.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Also I forgot how long some of these early chapters are.

Prologue

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Enter Trull Sengar and we see the sealing of a rent with water flowing through it. If you remember from the previous books we've found the Silanda, beheaded Tiste Andii rowing and Tiste Edur there.

This is another of those SE chapters where he gives you a lot of information but you can't process it because the events remain hidden. Just keep in mind they have conquered another people and Trull spoke out against a hidden power.
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Chapter 1

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7 gods of the Teblor, do mark.

May you slay a legion of children. May flamers haunt the path of your life.

So very early we learn the Teblor are brutal war faring people who having gone to the nearest village beyond their lands to Silver lake in a long time. Karsa, newly arrived to his eightieth year is just a pup so they are long lived. Delum and Barioth to travel with him.

The Teblor gods are deceiving the Teblor so that they don't even know their own name. Bairoth's child in Dayliss's womb.....Karsa very wrong about his companion and future betrothed. Gotta love these god's names.

More slaying of a thousand children while they mark their own children in tribal rituals. Synag and his father an interesting argument.

We find Karsa is stubborn and arrogant but deadly. Fast as a warhorse.

The rape of the villages and Karsa's conversation about the blood oil and the women turning into savages is both interesting and awful. Not the wife of the chief saying Karsa's grandfather was not the warrior he portrayed himself to be.

By the end of this chapter you probably don't like Karsa much. He's arrogant, loves killing, won't follow anybody's council accept his own and his words to Baraith about the difference being following vs leading tells a lot about his character.

He's also a badass.

These warrior bands and the animals frozen in ice very much remind me of the Ice Ages and those people.
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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 2

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Interesting that the chapter quotes start out with the wars between the Jags and T'lan even though this is another Karsa chapter.

Note, Karsa reading Teblor script about the T'Lan Imass? This will go somewhere. I'll let you come to your own conclusions.

Icarium, tribes renamed.......the plot thickens.

Bairoth coming to the truth of Karsa's father and grandfather. His wishing uncertainty upon Karsa who knows no doubt.

I'll point out at this time that "children" does not mean young humans. The Teblor are a massive race and to them all humans are children. You'll notice they refer often to "youths" within the humans.

"The Korkassal", a demon as they see it. The spirit wars, more mentions of Icarium. "Elongated limbs, extra-jointed, skin stretched taut and pallid as moonlight". Remember the description.

Karsa vowing the T'lan Imass as enemies.....Calm the Forkrul Assail. Our first meeting of this previously mentioned elder race. Notice the name For K'rul Assail, perhaps something or nothing.

Calm offering some portents of Karsa's future. Who would look to use him? Icarium and the T'lan Imass put Calm there but she already knows his memory isn't what it should be. Delium leaking blood. The Forkrul Assail easily taking out the warband. Karsa no pity for his companion.

The lowlanders unleash fire on Karsa, mages, but he walks through it.......how?

We see more of Karsa's parochial view on all things as Bairoth paints Delum's face for the final war dance as a mercy.

Note the size of Karsa's horse at 2X the size of the lowlander horses. He knocks down a gate. Phenomenal battle.

Social message where the Teblor will be slaves within a century.

Were you as relieved to finally see the word Malazan in this book? My first time I could only think, thank god, finally. This time I enjoyed Karsa's story a lot more.

Note a lot of talk of chains. Obviously it will be a huge theme of the book given the name. A lot of it will be analogies or portents.

"More souls to walk in your shadow."

Torvald Nom. Enemy of the Malazans. We've met another Nom. Rallick in Darujhistan. Karsa now declares the Malazan's also his enemies in addition to the T'lan Imass.

Note the awe of the bloodswords. "You expected sympathy for an Uryd?" LOL.

Karsa applies the blood oil and is revived. There's something to this.....Karsa takes the time to give a woman blood oil and have sex with her, he leaves her bloody but the oil will heal her.

Again Karsa fighting off sorcery. We finally meet a few new Malazans in Ebron, Cord and Limp. Heading back to Seven Cities and the Otataral mines for Karsa. Enter Captain Kindly and Lieutenant Pores.

Ebron uses Ruse which is a sea warren against Karsa which is usually used against dhenrabi which if you read K&KB you're familiar with.
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Chapter 3

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The secret of Karsa's resistance to magic, Otataral. Now the connection, how?

Lot's of talk of chains, breaking of chains and gathering of souls....we see, finally, a small change in Karsa. He's finally willing to take Dellum's lead and practice a little deception. Broken mind not spirit. Karsa for all of his brutality has a lot of layers.

Karsa now reevaluating his grandfather and father. His tribes stubbornness to change.

Note the timeline. Pale has just fallen. So most of GotM and all of DHG and MOI are to come.

Torvald driving Karsa nuts still makes me laugh. His torture being chained not so much. Awful.

Interesting BB history. Crimson Guard around causing issues for the Malazans.....

Karsa's visions and Urugal saying "unless you want to meet your dead", the souls bound to Karsa by chains, "lead us warleader".

"Chains snapping down through the clouds....hundreds of chains, snapping down through the clouds to crack thunderously on the horizon......Horror filled his soul."

Think back to DHG and the storm which Heboric, Stormy, Gessler......an Otataral storm, a wounded warren, an undead dragon. More chains in this scene. There are chains around Karsa and then there are the Crippled Gods chains, the House of Chains.

Karsa sucked into a warren like Heboric and company and also if you remember the prologue the Tiste Edur and Trull Sengar. A flooded warren. Floating wrecks.

Urugal questioning Karsa's commitment, Karsa saying he's changed. Why is Urugal so upset?

Interesting that Karsa describes the land of the Teblor gods as tundra like.......but the new place of colored mists.

Grey skinned warriors, black ship, black headless corpses...Tiste Edur. Karsa once again able to overcome a mage because of Otataral. Remember when he took on Ebron it was only enough to contain him but now he's stronger.....because he has his bloodwood sword which is layered in blood oil........an otataral sword like Adjunct Lorn. Karsa also baths this into his armor and his body.

Karsa senses the changes in himself. The need to see complexities and layers, subtlety. He needed this journey in many ways. Karsa also sensing this wasn't his gods. This was somebody else's awakening. Doubt in his gods.

Figures trying to direct Karsa's fate, "there are kin upon our trail", a HUGE hint here. They attempt to open a warren after the Edur failure. So the Edur are part of this plot.

Although never spelled out we can assume the boat is the Silanda which later comes into play with Gessler and Stormy in DHG.

Karsa beating up a shark and grabbing him in a bear hug giving more reference to his size and strength, before killing it.

They've reached Seven Cities in the Otataral Seas. A dark skinned Napan Malazan who is known to have died long ago.......who gets nervous when asked if the boat was his.....Malazan sailors that we know who are "dead"? And can knock Karsa out with a punch?

So Rallick is in fact Torvald's cousin. More doubts of Karsa's gods. Keeper sees Karsa's chains. Karsa really changing and seeing how he needs to mend past ills.

Keeper's tragic drowning, the way many Malazan's close to the emperor went.
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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 4

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"Has a drowned Napan's body ever surfaced?"

LOL.

I cannot imagine getting my face tattooed. A shattered tattoo.

The T'lan Imass and Otataral elsewhere.....

Nom not so dead after all. Mebra who if you remember Deadhouse Gates he's the one who sent Kalam off with the book pretending to be an ally and was working with the Red Blades.

Silgar a fate worse than death and I have no mercy for him. I would not want to be on Karsa's bad side.

BOOM! Did you see it coming?

‘Amuse? More like appals. The Fenn had fallen far from their past glories, yet they remembered enough to know their old name. You cannot even make that claim. Your kind walked this earth when the T’lan Imass were still flesh. From your blood came the Barghast and the Trell. You are Thelomen Toblakai.’

I am Leoman.

Now we have Toblakai's story as Karsa Orlong. If you figured it out you're better than I am. I was blown away at the reveal.
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Book 2

Chapter 5

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How happy are you to have a different perspective than that of Karsa? I remember being so happy that first time through to be back with the Malazans.

Gamet in case you don't remember was a house guard for house Paran in Malaz. Blistig was inside of Aren sealing the city in DHG and watched Coltaine's fate unfold but helped save the city from Rel's treatery.

Both Squint and Blistig looking to get sent home at all costs.

"Strings", should have been easy to figure out. "reminding him of another young woman he had marched along with, as he shivered...."

Pearl and Lostara back, oddly enough at Dancer's Tavern. Note Lostara being oddly reminiscent. Pearl being an assassin it's not an odd choice for him. Also note how Tavore is a somewhat distant figure. We'll find her a complement to Laseen in this regard. Note she also has an Otataral sword. She's all business.

Keneb, who you'll remember travelled with Kalam for a time and Minala will rejoin Blistig. Poor Nether and Nil after all they've been through.

Tavore free to speak in a room from the empress....so secrets. The Talons are Dancer's version of the Claw which have been Laseen's. Pearl's distaste evident. Tavore seeking out her sister and Baudin's mission to protect her. Great breaking down of the hidden politics by Pearl.

A reminder of Kalam sinking the treasurer's ship in Malaz harbor. Nok's dropping of the Twisted the Emperor's ship will come up again.

Note Gamet saying there are four left from the Emperor's days. Tayschrenn, Dujek, Nok and Whiskeyjack meaning either word hasn't spread of Whiskeyjack's death or it hasn't happened yet.

Great getting the back story of how the Emperor started things and who was there from the start. The story of "the family" will gain a lot of information over this entire series and also Empire and Path to Ascendency. They do a great job of dropping bits of information along the way.

So the Napans all left to not be grouped in with Laseen as usurpers.

T'amber is Tavore's significant other. She's a bit of a mystery we'll also get drops of information about.

Stings under Keneb. As you can imagine the Kalam connection will come up. It's good to have an ally above especially since the lieutenant is an ass.

Fid building his new squads. Koryk, Tarr, Smiles, Bottle....keep them all in mind. They'll build bonds. Their drill sergeant Braven Tooth, remember the name. Bottle, no weapon, "this and that"......mage.

Gesler and Stormy! Adjunct Stormy, a reminder from Fid. Poor Lull. :( They aren't fooled by Fids name. One Falari in the Bridgeburners so Gesler will know him as well as WJ. Fid not knowing about WJ is so sad a reminder. Gesler is doubting Tavore and there will be a lot of that.

Who has the better story, Gesler or Fidler\Strings?


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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 6

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Rellock passing as we return to Crokus and Apsalar. Back where it all started. Crokus and Apsalar put down in the wrong location by Shadowthrone.....no mistake there.....as they become assassins in truth. Crokus now Cutter. Reading this the first time Jenna's outage at the name change still makes me laugh.

Kalam in shadow with the orphans who had been crucified. Minala and Apt. Great conversation with Cotillion. Panek the one eyed child to match Apt.

Important point that Shadowthrone has affectations. He, like shadow, is all about deceit. Cotillion's take on Crokus's role in the Fete very profound as is his description of his new name. Gathering a set of assassins. Rallick and Vorcan referenced to remind us they are in the Finnest House in Darujhistan.

Interesting answers to Cutter's questions. We start to see more of Cotillon's personality. They're to journey to an island. There were hints of this island in MOI.

Onrack in the Nascent of the tiste edur, not the casual reference to catfish confirming Karsa and Torvald where in that realm. Logros "guardians of the first throne itself". The first throne is what Kellanved sat upon to control the T'lan Imass.

Fragments of the Kurald Emurlahn warren. Again reminded it was sundered at some point. Tremelor confirmed as being part of that warren. Note Onrack wondering if the renegade T'lan Imass were responsible for flooding the warren. Now think back to Karsa's scenes........there's some hints there to a main theme of this book.

Love the description of Onrack's senses. Another huge hint that Trull, remember from the prologue, is linking his enemies to that of Onrack's. Trull's enemy is he who "chained" him there. Great scene with Onrack turning to dust to kill the catfish.

Part of the Edur story. Coming from Mother Dark and the Tiste Andii.

"there are those among your kind among us Onrack" T'lan Imass with the Edur.......

Seven monuments, but two alive.
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Chapter 7

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Heboric light touch. It's not really spelled out here but the whirlwind is an actual storm that won't allow people easily to penetrate inside or out. We saw this in DHG with Kalam, Felisin and others.

Felisin Younger is an orphan adopted by her mother, a girl herself, a house Paran but now the Whirlwind Goddess.

"Call to shadow". Interesting poem name.

Korbolo Dom calling his army the dogslayers makes me hate him with renewed vigor. Remember the list: Leoman, Toblakai, Bidthal, L'oric, Mathok, Sha'ik and Pullyk Alar, these will be the main players in the army of the whirlwind along with Dom and Rel, god I hate them.

Reading between the lines the goddess has stolen the power of another fragment of Kurald Emurlahn. Felisin/Sha'ik has discovered this power. More of civilization built upon the bones of others.

Toblokai/Karsa not speaking to Heboric....Herboric still a Malazan at heart. A reminder of Felsin's drug use.

Bidithal will quickly join Rel and Dom in the land of the unredeemable. Hints that Sha'ik elder was broken and his plans for Felisin younger.....Kamist Reloe who wouldn't let Coltaine's soul escape. Plots within plots of politics within the "allies". Febryl plots...Heboric seeing to the truth of it.

Bidithal uses Rashan, human Dark. Rashan Cult upset with the rise of shadow.

L'oric in a "white robe" is not coincidence. Yet nobody knows his warren........ but Heboric seems to trust him.

And now we see what's become of Silgar. You knew Karsa would show him no mercy.

Bidithal the rapist. Interested to see if Heboric's hands cast shadows....Bidithal interested in the roots of shadow, not in Meanas and Shadowthrone.

"Seven blount featured faces carved into a cliff side....so many faces to the enemy." We see Karsa has grown in his contemplations. The rattle of chains..... Karsa building 9 statues. Bairoth, Delum and the seven. Snakes come to watch, to witness.

Reminders of the Jade Giant and Otataral. Fener of Heboric, who abandoned who? The Jade Giant from another realm, from our previous readings we know it's tied into TCG.

A reminder of MOI events involving the gods and Shadowthrone's deceptions. News of WJ finally reaching Seven Cities. Dujek a broken man. Reloe knowing the significance of QB living. The new house.....
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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 8

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Once again I love how SE lets us know it's Gesler at the start of the chapter and Gamet and everybody else recognize him and they interact without words.

Cuttle, like all the sappers, becomes an irreverent favorite almost instantly.

Grub the camp follower who was orphaned during the Chain of Dogs now being cared for by poor Keneb. This is not the first or last time the theme of orphans coming out of the results of war will be offered. Pay attention to these characters. We've seen Anaster of the dead seed, Panek one-eye of the Apt and now Grub. There roles are varied and there will be others. Also the bone he grabbed will be significant.

Great story by Fid about Nok. Soldiers like a lot of people are superstitious.

Blistig's character begins to get built here. He's a pragmatist who would rather walk away from a fight and his words about Keneb not being willing to go that route even if they believe he would is meaningful to both men's characters. We'll see more of this.

T'amber is another great secretive character. A lot of SE's female characters are this way from Laseen, Tavore and even Apsalar to a certain degree. He keeps you guessing at her intent and purpose.

Lostara Yil we find a lot more about. So she became part of Rashan. Remember from earlier chapters Bidithal also came from that cult, both being indigenous to Seven Cities. A Shadow Dancer...a mysterious stranger....spared by QB. Dancer/Cotillion was one of the three and we get the back story of how QB was an acolyte of Shadowthrone and betrayed him by letting Bidithal go free, along with Lostara.

We see some of the inner workings of Cotillion's mind. Not fearing to vary from Shadowthrone's plots, feeling he screwed up in regards to Kalam, Quick and Whiskey. Dancer is one of my favorites. Cotillion giving QB his props.

So Cotillion gathers another assassin to his purposes.

Loved Stormy throwing Pearl. Casually our two cattle dogs Bent and Roach re-enter the fray. Fid feeling out Lostara.

Have you figured out the finger bones?

Great reminder of the events of DHG by Truth and Lostara. The T'lan Imass sword, the Silanda....

Drift Avalii.....a mythical floating island. Remember from previous chapters Crokus/Cutter is heading to an island.....So with the captain pinned we get confirmation that the Silanda was in fact the ship that Karsa also ran into.

Tavore totally getting what Fidler is doing. They need standard. Have you figured it out and do you understand what this means long term for the 14th?

Crow clan, Coltaine's own....
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Chapter 9

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Kalam getting a recap of the House of Chains and the Crippled God. Picking up an otataral weapon.....Coltaine's? A Toblokai a Wicken's friend? Shadow's diamonds? Cotillion a part of the last chaining and a reminder of Bellurdan Skullcrusher which is one of my favorite names.

Sinn is one to pay attention to. So Kindly and Pores who captured Karsa are stuck as fellow allies try to take them apart. A sad reminder "first in, last out.....it won't be my last time." :(

Kindly not so kindly it seems. His stubbornness will grow.

Kalam "has a meeting with Dom and Reloe....."

A new demon from Shadowthrone. A two penis demon with acrid piss, LOL. Kalam taking no shit from Cord or Ebron.

Cutter heading to Drift Avalii. What other word in Malazan starts with an A and ends with a double I? Tiste Andii guarding the throne of Shadow.

We'll get more of Cotillion/Dancer's mind via Apsalar as time goes on.

Darist the Tiste Andii set to protect the true throne of shadow, that would align interests with Shadowthrone to some degree. Interesting comments about renouncing his Draconian blood and favored son. Darist is obviously well acquainted. Darists words on death show the depth of his life and the loss.

Two hounds of shadow housed in the living stone. An answer to the riddle and where they ended up. Dessimbelackis a d'ivers emperor of the first empire. We will see more of his fallen empire and have already seen if you remember Felisin and Heboric stuck in the temples filling with sand in DHG.

Who is behind the Edur's rise and corruption. Onrack sparing Trull nothing. Hounds of Darkness released not Shadow. Onrack with the dry T'lan humor "so much for gratitude".

A white version of Trull Sengar. They have opened with the Moranth munitions a warren to the Tiste Liosan, Elder Light, Kurald Liosan. They talk of purity and the trespassers. Hating the Andii and tolerating the Edur. The arrogance of the true believers and a social and religious statement.

Interesting that the Liosan much like the Edur have been isolated. Osric the son of father light. He has come up previously if briefly in reflections of Rake and Brood. He was a companion along with Envy.

Trull realizing this isn't going his way. The T'lan Imass doing a ritual.......how can this go badly? The Liosan coming into this realm, more complications.
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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 10

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Karsa realizing the gods aren't Teblor. There are several different storylines converging on this point. The hints are there to put it all together. "The light makes them almost look human."

Great conversation with Leoman with the snakes all around. Leoman's statement that he feels nothing for his kind should not be overlooked.

House of Chains, all members with a flaw, important. I love the symbolism as Felisin puts together the elements of the card for the Master of the deck. Standing on a bridge, surrounded by followers, a skull with a helmet.........Bridgeburners, Tool.....

"chains I so dislike chains", Karsa, so close to answers, answers Leoman could give him on some fronts. Karsa giving the Seven a new place outside of the rock face. Karsa reunited with his companions. Karsa born again.

The warrens and people of the tiste explained to a degree. Note L'oric wanting to warn Heboric of the Tiste and Heboric the opposite. L'oric a potent sorcerer and knowledgeable.

Kimloc, if you remember from DHG he gave Fidler some gifts for protecting his grandchildren. The song of the Bridgeburners, born in Raraku. A Bridgeburner must return to Raraku for it to be sanctified, not one but two will with Fiddler and Kalam. Multiple giants, wrapped in otataral chains. The passage causing the otataral to be born. Otataral the destruction of magic. Linking the Crippled God.

Silver, chaos. "May you slay a thousand children." I can easily imagine the shock on Leoman's face. Good advice on looking clearly on his gods.

Reloe and Dom conspiring. What is the throne they are seeking? Laseen's own. "the talons will cut down the claw" not so dead after all. The Jhistal priest, Mallick Rel finally resurfacing. Dom preaching genocide. Celebrating Whiskeyjack's demise as the commander who was his superior.
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Chapter 11

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The reverence to Coltaine is touching. Tavore having to live in that shadow is intimidating at best. I love how Gamet calls on Tene to faith in his thoughts and the next paragraph is Gesler saying faith is for fools. Both funny and poignant showing the two sides of the marine coin.

Strings hearing and unfamiliar song as he returns to Raruku...."as for us Bridgeburners, as if Raraku stole something of our mortality, and replaced it with...with something else."

Two vets like Fiddler and Gesler having these conversations walking down the Aren Way with all the fetishes on the crucifixes really brings back the Chain of Dogs so poignantly.

"That punch rivaled Urko's" So where have we seen somebody who has links to the old empire and has one hell of a punch? I love how SE does this and if you're not paying attention you would scan right over it.

Interesting that the squads have all Meanas mages, shadow, Shadowthrone.......coincidence?

Topper getting drunk with Tayschrenn is almost impossible for me to invision. The losses however bring back the heartbreak and the remaining Bridgeburners learning of Whiskeyjack. SE in quick succession has reminded us of the losses of both DHG and MOI....

Bottle's old magic....a bit of Quick Ben in him. Poor Fid. We see the compassion that fills his being helping Temul when he himself is in such pain and SE builds in the history lesson to remind us Coltaine is reborn and Duiker alive along with the nastiness that was the Chain of Dogs.

Tavore dealing with her own grief. The discussion of hot and cold in a commander will reoccur. Hot being the fiery yelling type of commander who elicits the same reaction his their troops. Cold being the calculating commander who elicits confidence through the planning and cold determination. Tavore the cold type. Dom the hot type. The best types, Rake, WJ....able to do both.

Cold Iron.

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[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Book 3

Chapter 12

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Light, Shadow and Dark, This is a war unending.

Darist has Silver hair.....only one other Tiste Andii we know with that........"my brother.....before he found one more to his nature...."

Andarist the true name of the warrior. We see subtly how Apsalar has grown, she avoid sorcerous questing? That's a nice skill. Just being able to sense them is impressive.

Cutter spells out that Rake and Andarist are brothers. Now all of the younger Andii with silver hair....grandchildren.

The island ruins we can guess are another sundered piece of Kurald Emurlahn.

Dal Honese with criss crossed scars...Traveller......"the Warren of Shadow is human aspected now....", he certainly knows a lot.

"You claim this fight in the name of the Malazan Empire?" reply "More than you know." SE doesn't put superfluous text in so there's a deeper meaning here.

Cutter calls Blind, who remember would have connections to the Edur at a time, and a "hooded figure with a 'rope' appears. Cotillion says the Malazans won't need help and says "when he's done lead him to the sword and tell him it's name." So we can reference this is a Dal Honese that Dancer would have known. If you follow who people are in the empire by their race you may be able to figure it out at this point. This is one of the few that I did this early. There will be a lot more hints.

Traveller knows the god, knows he went to the ships, names the sword vengeance and will protect the throne alone. He took on over 50 Edur and came out unscathed....."thank your god mortal, for the sword." I think it's safe to say we'll see Traveller and the sword again.

Kalam and company in a cult of the Nameless Ones. If you remember from DHG it was they who set Mappo as Icarium's chaperone and Kellanved tried to purge them from the empire. They destroyed Mappo's settlement and blamed Icarium.

Kalam now with a demon with vengeance on it's mind on his trail. Cool battle and a interesting story reminding us the beast gods are reborn. A pure Toblokai in the temple?

Another Dal Honese finds Kalam and he knows of the demon....Pust resurfaces. A reminder his wife is a d'ivers with spiders and connected to Ardata. Mogora.

Onrack having........feelings. The renegades both fleeing and having joining another cause. Again more hints to a bigger puzzle.

In different places the warren of light is called Kurald Liosan or Kurald Thyrllan and the human part just Thyr.

Onrack's description confirms Trull's worst fears, that a vaster power is going after the shadow warren and throne while using the Edur as a tool. I'm sure you can guess at who. Great comparison of Thyr and Tellan being adjoining warrens of light and fire two components to life. Osseric....

Onrack wanting to live. I really don't think I would have that sense of purpose after hundreds of thousands of years, or hundreds for that matter. Interesting that he's the link halfway between life and death.

The Liosan are easy to dislike with their arrogance. SE compares their religious piety and purity to antiquity and irrelevance. LOVE the symbolism. Nostalgia.

Awesome scene with the opening of the gate and Monok turning into his soultaken form. Onrack taking on a second vow to defend Trull, thus giving his "undead life" meaning once again.

The T'lan Imass go to kill the Liosan god. Interesting theme where ancient undead man goes to kill the old gods of antiquity.

Lostara in the imperial warren. Remember in MOI we learned this was the burnt out warren of Kallor's when he burnt down the realm vs give up control. Lostara's rant on men and answers if amusing. I'm sure women readers love it. I'll save my retorts. :)

Lostara, "there are spiders in the desert", an interesting reminder from the MOI prologue that Jakaruku was once a jungle where Ardata thrived with her spiders and when Kallor destroyed it all the spiders adapted and became desert dwellers. Also Raraku and Jakaruku both similarly named were once jungles and became deserts and will likely be jungles again at some point.

A crucified dragon. That image simply blows me away every time. An Otataral dragon. Aspected into its own realm. Remember earlier in the book Otataral is anathema to all that is magic. The dragon is there to insulate it from the world and magic. We'll learn more about the dragon....a balance. Whoever put the dragon there was careless and had extreme arrogance.....

Lostara telling Pearl the truth and then Pearl giving her what she asked for and she doesn't like it. Retort completed! :)

They're at Thyr's gate too. So the T'lan Imass completed their mission? Did they kill Osserc or another?
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Chapter 13

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L'oric, ever the mystery.

The jade giant and the defeat of Otataral, seems to be high on everybody's mind and Otataral vs this fragment of Kurald Emurlahn.

Chains, she has made for me a house of chains. Heboric realizing she's taken his power through his trust.

Bidithal is so revolting and symbolic of men who would keep women in the dark for only their purposes. His pawing of Felisin the Younger is appalling. His only goals destruction through his god another social commentary prevalent in our world.

I didn't comment on it before as to not give anything away but I thought my first time through Silgar is going to go through a world of pain but Karsa in the end may pay a price for keeping that scum alive. Chains, the sound of chains dragging in his wake.....

L'oric losing his familiar, "illusions that our father was still with us....only the clan leader escaped me but I will hunt him down." So L'oric is actually Tiste Liosan hiding in human form. His father Osserc. His familiar posing as Osserc. The T'lan Imass believing that had killed Osserc when in fact they killed the familiar.

Enter the Queen of Dreams, T'riss. Osserc and T'riss companions but not friends or enemies. Osserc choosing his path as sleep. There meeting cut short by Felisin Youngers plight. A great message for those who know and do nothing. I think SE often calls out Dante's mantra of a special place in hell is reserved in hell for those in times of moral crisis preserved their neutrality.

A wound through our world where the Crippled God was brought down and the giants in pursuit. The wound like a torn warren. A wound to devour thousands of worlds. A weird vision to say the least. His tattoos transformed. Jade pulsing slowly. Heboric finding a new god, Treach, the tiger of summer, trying to steal him as a follower.

The horror of Bidithal performing female castrations as part of his rape. The practice of it in that world and that an abomination....SE can really got your blood flowing hot and wanting to kill these fictional characters that are all too real because this shit really happens. Then women embracing it as well....

I love the line about turning loss into a virtue so that it might be justified. This is why there's less and less compassion in the world. People think platitudes equal comfort and linear time equals catharsis and total healing.

The Teblor gods turning Felisin into the dagger to kill Bidithal....
(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 14

(view spoiler)[
Wolves. You get to a point where anytime there's an animal thinking of attacking in Malazan you instantly think Soutaken or D'ivers if there's more than one.

If you remember Ryllandaras is an ancient D'ivers who ran into Icarium and Mappo in DHG and dates back to the First Empire. Putting that together there's only one person who a battle with Karsa would scare the likes of Ryllandaras. "A curiously potent warning", indeed.

Karsa considered, then nodded. ‘True enough, Delum Thord. You advise caution. This was always your way, so I am not surprised. I will not ignore your words for that, however.’

Of course you will Karsa Orlong.

When your own ghosts know you that well....

I love the description of Icarium and Mappo here and feel this picture of them is awesome.



‘When curses collide, you might say. Flaws and virtues, the many faces of fateful obsession, of singular purpose. Powers and wills are drawn together, as if one must by nature seek the annihilation of the other. Thus, you and Icarium are now here, and we are moments from a dreadful convergence, and it is my fate to witness. Helpless unto desperate madness. Fortunately for my own sake, I have known this feeling before."

This entire monologue is awesome. I didn't point it out before but during my first reading I kept thinking there's zero chance Karsa and Icarium don't meet and wow that could be epic.

SE, bastard that he is, gives us only a glimpse before Mappo wisely ends the battle. "Bastard broke my sword." LOL. God I still want this to continue!

A seven headed hound.....Trull and Onrack came upon a seven headed hound, the first empire had a seven headed hound.....

Great social commentary from Karsa and upheaval when all it was about was who was in charge and constituted just a change of what collar you wore. Karsa will also be a barbarian as we saw just a scene ago, and will shortly see again, but we also see keen insights from him such as this and his distaste for "civilization".

An army walked through here and the skeleton looks like his gods......

Hood hating Karsa for keeping the dead, interesting.

A walk in the dream world. Passing into Omtose Phellack. The ancient tundra of the Jaghut. The war of the T'lan Imass. Karsa after Calm not freeing anybody from their pinned down state.

A great social commentary on our own world and the dying ice and the creatures that live there. Almost gone to dreams from the actions of the T'lan Imass and their descendants. A constant assault on the ice.

The scouting party was 7 T'lan Imass......"ignorance forged into a weapon", LOL, Karsa would have killed for less earlier.

"But the ritual did.....the one you now serve.......all control is lost with that method T'lan Imass....."

So the truth comes. The 7 gods of the Teblor are the 7 renegade T'Lan Imass. Refusing to die, abandoning the ritual and it's cause. They could now have Karsa lead his people against the lowlanders who oddly enough are the descendants of the T'lan Imass. But who do they follow?

The unbound. From hold to house. Remember ancient houses were holds back in the ancient deck.

Karsa to break the chains, to release all but his allies. To give them honor after death that he didn't in their deaths often enough. Sealed in blood.

‘There is place for you none the less,’ Urugal said, ‘in the House of Chains.’

‘Aye. Knight of Chains, champion of the Crippled God.’

‘You have learned much, Karsa Orlong.’ He stared down at his bloodied hands.

‘I have, T’lan Imass. As you shall witness.’


Ominous words. Karsa telling them they shall witness pretty much lets you know things aren't going to turn out as they expect. Karsa no longer bound to his gods the unbound. SE has thrown chains around so often that I'm sure you had figured out it was the T'lan Imass and the Crippled God. I don't remember when I knew for certain but it was before the unveiling.
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Chapter 15

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The Khundryl burned tears if you remember from DHG were the tribe who wanted to be the best and honored Coltaine's Wickens as having that title after fighting other tribes from the later named Dogslayers. Great scene with Gall, Fid and Temul.

Gall's portents of the 14th are a bit ominous.

Keneb reminding us of Bent and Roach's story and that it's a mystery means it's important. Coltaine's spirit all about.

Gesler, Stormy and Truth can't get drunk anymore. A reminder from DHG's that there's an ascendant quality about them. Back to Vathar Crossing. One of the things in wars is the same names come up again and again in different wars. SE points this out.

Fid feeling the loss of friends and youth. Thinking he has no purpose. Fidler was an apprentice mason....Whiskeyjack an apprentice mason.......Butterflies, DHG, Sormo E'nath the lead Wicken mage, no Kimloc who gave Fidler, a song, Raraku, the Bridgeburners awaiting him.....

(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 16

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Pust wants Kalam to breach the Whirlwind. Three purposes come to mind that benefit shadow. The goddess is using a shattered part of shadow which is Shadowthrone's realm at this point. The killing of Bithanthal who wants Rashan in power not the Meanas usurpers and for a Bridgeburner to enter Raraku and have Kimloc's prophesy to come true. The first is a fact, the second Rope as more or less set him in that direction himself. The third I remember thinking at this point in my first read. I'll neither confirm or deny the theory, merely state I was thinking it.

Kalam hearing the same song as Fid. The Tanno song. Quite the ruse.

Hawl, a talon. Cotillion wondering why she was with Traveller. "look at the two of us" was directed at Traveller and Cotillion not Cutter and he as he thought. Now he's looking for Cutter to wait and perhaps take out the head of the Talon's, a group he once led. The Malazan politics intricate even after death.


Interesting scene between Shadowthrone and Cotillion as we see a more human side to these two gods. Taking Hawl's body home. Again the hint that Traveller is also Dal Honese and he makes Shadowthrone nervous.......

‘I know him,’ she whispered, then shuddered. ‘Not my memories. Dancer’s. Dancer knew him. Knew him well. They were… three. It was never just the two of them— did you know that? Never just Dancer and Kellanved. No, he was there. Almost from the very beginning. Before Tayschrenn, before Dujek, before even Surly.

Another huge hint. Who is the only big name Apsalar doesn't bring up? And he's good with a sword and Dal Honese?

Lostara and Pearl discovering the burnt rats of the D'ivers which Heboric, Felisin and Baudin encountered. Gryllen. Kulp.

So Pearl uncovers that Hood came for Baudin and he ascended into High House Death as the Knight of Death who we saw in MOI.

One step closer to learning Felisin is the goddess reborn.

Onrack painted an Imass women which was a crime, Kilvava, and ired Onus T'oolan. Kilvana killing all of her own kin minus her brother.

On the trail of the seven T'lan Imass.

The Tiste Liosan to seek out the maker of time. Icarium. That would be an unfortunate alliance.

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Chapter 17

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Karsa and the sword as one, made and remade. The ancient and meaningless wars of man.

‘You are wrong, both of you,’ Karsa said. ‘To be a god is to know the burden of believers. Did you protect? You did not. Did you offer comfort, solace? Were you possessed of compassion? Even pity? To the Teblor, T’lan Imass, you were slave-masters, eager and hungry, making harsh demands, and expecting cruel sacrifices— all to feed your own desires. You were the Teblor’s unseen chains.’ His eyes settled on ’Siballe. ‘And you, woman, ’Siballe the Unfound, you were the taker of children.’

And now we start to really see the changes in Karsa. This callout of religion and those who would do things to children is just so awesome.

Worship imperfection. Siballe becoming broken herself in his answer. A new set of chains. Abandoned by the Crippled God. Karsa stuffing her in his pack. Then of course......back to Karsa the impatient swinging at two figures in the door he doesn't even know.

Did you get "a pair of hands"? Onrack stole Siballe's bones that he could use. Onrack the Broken, indeed.

I love that SE always gives Karsa chatty companions. Cynnigig drops that the Forkrul Assail often adjudicate to nobody's liking. Note that.

Phyrilis is interesting. Love that she calls out Cynnigig's loquaciousness as well. A Jag/tree hybrid.

Karsa finding out that the world is smaller than he thought. Trell and Jags both distant relations.

"Against Icarium, no-one has, Karsa Orlong." In the previous chapter Icarium was called the maker of time. In this chapter nobody has a defense for him. See where this leads?

Bloodwood and blood oil, the horse remember. I name you Havoc. "The birth of infamy"

"The foundations survive.....all beneath my cloak of soil." The Azath house of Omtose Phellack. Did you catch that Icarium had a Toblokai companion? Mappo not the first to guide Icarium. Icarium trying to free his father Gothos. So the lifespirit moved into the spear, the Imass very fearful.
(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Book 4

Chapter 18

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Kaz D'Avore, remember is the leader of the Crimson Guard. So this insight into Tavore and her understanding of historical battles is a double history lesson. SE definitely stole this from Patton and others who replayed losing battles to strengthen their military mind. I love that Patton had read Rommel's book before facing him in the African campaign.

Felisin, saying the whirlwind will have a new house, a house of the whirlwind fed by her sister's army's blood. I meant to point this out earlier but Tavore and others, Fidler most prominent, should be able to quickly figure out that Ganoes isn't dead. It's a question of their knowing he's the master of the deck who's role hasn't gone away meaning he's alive. Felisin in earlier chapters started to realize who the master is, she must feel her brother will grant her this wish and vengeance.

Back to hot iron vs cold iron. Coltaine cold, Dujek able to shift, rare. Tavore, unknown. If you had to guess you would say cold. This political discussion and Dassem's doctrine is very interesting. Consensus working from the command tents not centralized dominance.

Toblakai, both hot and cold. Leoman, cold. Important details.

Corabb. I don't want to say too much but somebody I wish I paid more attention to the first reading. It's tough at times with SE to gauge how much a character will weight in the total story. "for Leoman of the Flails he would give his life."

Felisin without the goddess, sad. Everybody after the warren. Light, Dark and Shadow fighting again. All the factions in Sha'ik's camp fighting for their own purposes. Fearing the Claw....

Scillara. Spy for Bidithal. One to watch.

Heboric Treach's Destriant. Gruntle the Mortal Sword. Funny man do you remember the dark?

Corabb, only lucky SOB on that raid.

Plots, within plots, within plots.......for all of this chapter.
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Chapter 19

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Regarding Grub in the opening, "The future First Sword of the late Empire period....."

Leoman using wounded warriors against the Malazans. A cruel but useful tactic. Tavore sensing the opposition is confused. Tavore quoting more Dassem.

The birdshit scopion. This is such an awesome story in the middle of all of this and you know shit like this really happens. Joyful Union, LOL. OMG that still had me cracking up. All of it. The two bigger scorpions trying to frantically escape, Gesler screaming cheat while trying to get his Imass sword out and them saying how we're we to know Joyful Union wasn't just a cute name, HAHAHA!

Note the inclusion of Greymane as one of the great commanders of the Empire.

Corabb once again......lucky.

Gamet slowly losing it. Fist Keneb. Well deserved.

Leoman realizing Dom's strategy is doomed.
(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 20

(view spoiler)[
Note that Apsalar finds something barbaric of the Edur magic. The Crippled God's taint? The Edur being in their own realm like the Liosan for too long? The sundering of shadow itself?......blood decays of all Kurald warrens to human.

Shadowthone to protect the throne more actively. Traveller leaving with the remnants of the Andii and Malazan soldiers. Does Shadowthrone still have the first throne of the T'Lan Imass? Could he sit on both thrones? Keep one as an insurance policy? Shadowthrone is cunning, negation to avoid convergence. Consolidation?

They knew what Surly intended. Playing the long game. They gave up the Malazan Empire for that of Shadow not wanting to take on the ascendants.

I love how SE leaks Shadowthone and Cotillions thoughts, plans and the lives of Kellanved and Dancer through Apsalar but always keeps you wanting more. Important that they wandered the warrens gathering information.

Olar Ethil seeks the other armies of the T'lan Imass. Important.

The Nameless One's wanted the first throne for themselves. Important. Onrack making the leap to what if Edur who are compromised sit on the First throne. Silverfox the better choice. The throne is on Quan Tali which is where the Malazan Empire makes its home.

The bonecaster of the seven failed in the Forkrul wars.

Interesting how Lostra links all the events changed by Karsa. "the beauty of prophecies is that they are conveniently open to countless reinterpretations", another great shoutout against religion.

Lostara and Pearl coming to the natural conclusion. Sister vs Sister. One more awful consequence of how Karsa reshaped the course of events, unintentionally.

Pearl one-quarter Tiste Andii, indeed that is interesting.

Pearl and Lostara's raging at each other is so perfect. The yipping of an old married couple.

And the voices within the song… strange, yet familiar. Like friends… who never sang a word in their lives. Nothing to quell the spirit— no, these voices give music to war…

That really is brilliant foretelling. It screams of Bridgeburner and the song without ever saying it directly.

Ghost warriors. Dessimbelackis, founder of the first empire. Strife due to the nameless ones. 5 of the 7 protectors are no more. The 6th won't survive now that we have banished the black beast itself. Remember it was mentioned Dessimbelackis was an original D'ivers.

So the Spirit Walker gave them a song before their final battle, sounds a bit like history repeating itself. Kalam meets the hounds of Dark.

Interesting paragraph. Shadowthrone unleashing his plans while very disconcerted who now knows of the dark hounds. So who was this Malazan collaborator who gave Nok the information? I've thought this was Urko but cannot be certain.

Back to Seven Cities for Cutter and Apsalar. Pust as always letting out nuggets like Apsalar being sick with knowledge.
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Chapter 21

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Interesting story about Febryl whose name was chosen. Pay close attention to his perceptions Rel and Dom's plans. How they would rewrite history in a return to the empire.

The goddess has ties to the T'lan Imass?

Kurald Thyrllan created from a shattering of Darkness. Then branching into Tellan (fire) and Thyr (human light) while also left vulnerable by the shattering of it's sister warren Kurald Emurlahn (Shadow). Much like people of the Malazan world the Warrens are all connected in some way. Their paths don't forget are part of K'rul's veins.

We see L'oric is very different than the bumbling Liosan. I love this venture into Raraku's past and most ancient memory. Where the dessert was a jungle. Before modern man but after the apes. His anthropology and sociology background really shines and he makes it interesting like no other writer can.

"Father I've been looking for you." LOL.

Deragoth, the hounds of darkness. Moon Spawn a repurposed K'Chain Che'Malle skykeep. So we find the 7's come complete. The 7 holy cities, not the original ones, the 7 hounds of deragoth, Dessimbelackis the emperor and D'ivers of 7.

Rake lost his temper with Osric, interesting. Raraku a living entity, isn't it? I think SE wants us all to think of tundra, desserts, etc as living entities because the habitats are. A shrinking memory because chaos, human chaos in our world, is slowly destroying them.

Osric quite the charming fellow. No love for his wife or son or his people. Get another familiar with no compassion. The question bears asking, who is his wife? Do we know her? SE doesn't drop the wife comment without purpose. Osric picks his son up with his talons.

A Jaghut observation tower. I would like to know which one. There are two important ones. I can't remember how much of my knowledge about them is from this series and how much from Kharkanas so I'll leave it at that.

Greyfrog!!!!!! I love this demon. His choppy thoughts crack me up to no end. Sudden moroseness. One hop too far. LOL.

Felisin, regrets. Bidithal and all the rest hoping to grab the warrens power before even beating back the invading Malazans. There's a message there for all of the warring tribal factions of Asia and the Middle East. They're so busy worrying about their power grab they miss the big picture. So much bound hatred between tribes so have fought for thousands of years.

Febryl offering the "unwanted daughters" for his choosing is shuddering. Another social cry to the injustice of how women are treated in some cultures. Al Qaeda in Afghanistan isn't far off from this.

Scillara's story is heartbreaking. The guard spilling his seed as he dies.....a new child of the dead seed?

An emerald (jade) glow and a hand taloned like a huge cat (tiger) can only mean the destriant of Treach has arrived.

Interesting that L'oric says he will stay around through the convergence to "witness". There's certain words that I always ask myself if somebody involved in this. Witness is Karsa's word. Chains is TCG. Rope is Cotillion. And so on.

Three....Heboric, Felisin and Baudin.......three....Heboric, Scallara and Felisin Younger.

Karsa ready to take on TCG. Making him his Knight of High House Chains perhaps not the best move. Karsa will not be controlled.
(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 22

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Interesting opening on Otataral. The elder warrens resist it more?

Fid bringing up Greymane again. Recalled from the Korelri Campaign.

Bottle with his earth magic and Fidler too knowledgeable. Bottle a lot like QB. Using the Rope's shadow who Fid automatically links to Kalam and he knows who the target is......and the damn song is singing.

Interesting advice from Grub to Gamet. The wisdom of children. The whirlwind filled with screaming voices. Breaching and breaking this shard of the shadow warren.

Love the references to people getting positions due to who they are or know over merit. The idiot lieutenant promoted to captain.

Greymane again, Ranal getting it all wrong.


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Chapter 23

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Another interesting opening......TCG's deadliest enemy wasn't from those among the chainings. Karsa?

Mogora is a riot. Apsalar and Krokus revealing more of the Rope's plans which do not include Apsalar as she knows too much. Cutter realizing she might not be longed for his company.

SE finally comes out and says what we've long known. The Edur have knelt to TCG. The tale of propaganda to bolster their society even in loss well known in our world. Lether and the tale of the Edur. I like the verbal sparring in this part and Onrack's observations of Trull. Balance. Trull's despair.

Love that SE reverses the stereotype and it's the man whose heart is wrenched at the woman moves on from the one night stand. Pearl seems to believe the talons are at work supporting Dom, Rel and Reloe. That would align with Dancer and Kalam's purposes.

Ashok regiment, most likely Kindly and Pores since they've been missing ever since the demon's watering hole.

What did Lostara give Cotillion? She's a badass.

Awesome discourse between Cotillion and Apsalar. We see the depth of Cotillion's humanity and that he also knows Apsalar as well as she knows him. Apsalar leaving Crokus. I think for series vets this is probably the scene where they go from liking Dancer to his becoming a favorite. His compassion and patronage.

Kalam and Otataral. It doesn't work well with munitions. Doesn't like getting hot. Deliberately vague indeed. That's some very useful information.

The Eres a people before the T'lan Imass. This will be important especially in regards to magic not of the warrens but some characters as well.

Panek and Apt to guard the throne, Trull raped by this mysterious Eres woman.....
(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 24

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The Eres'al and Eres are the same thing.

The scene with Gamet, Tavore, Nether and Nil is interesting as the spirits don't want the goddess to steal the power of the warren. Then Tavore says "convey to your officers, please, the following. Units may appear during the battle on the morrow which you do not recognize. They may seeks orders, and you are to give them as if they were under your command." Do you get the connection?

The spirits looking to give Fid their cries. Bottle with a connection to the Eres.

Raraku rising up to break the chains of the sundered fragment of shadow.

Who were Heboric's saviors? Ghosts against the assassins. Thus Tavore's riddle unveiled.

Dom spilling L'oric's blood opening up holes in the defenses. L'oric knowing who is coming. Considering Dom has appointment himself "master of the talons" it's easy to figure out.

Love the description of Karsa and the Liosan were even smart enough to avoid him, hiding. LOL.


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Chapter 25

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Hood entering the fray. Dom once again switching sides and practicing deceit. I do love Greyfrog as I've mentioned before and SE giving him so much personality with his abrupt speech patterns.

Karsa Orlong unleashing a can of whoop ass.

Heboric's interesting comment the jade giant, the returning of power. The reluctant destriant to Gruntle's reluctant Mortal Sword. Treach could have done worse though when you consider TCG picked Karsa who being reluctant would be a mercy.

Kalam taking out a hand of Talons and sending a message to Dom. I always thought it sad that Dancers friends were corrupted by Dom and he had to see to their destruction.

Bidithal and Silgar members of High House Chains. Magi and Leaper. Kallor is the King and Poliel the consort. Herald is Gethol. The 7 T'lan Imass are the 7 of the dead fires. There are a few others which have been speculated on but never confirmed by SE or ICE. I would also point out that these can and will change.

We know for instance Dassem was Knight of Death but now that's Baudin. WJ was mason of Death but it's been speculated that SE including that Fiddler was a mason's apprentice and that he mentored Fiddler that he became Mason of HHD with SE providing that knowledge.

TCG looking to control the hounds and bind them to his house and the warren he would usurp. A timely arrival of a god....or patron. Karsa finally giving Silgar the death he so richly deserved. Karsa has taken out two member of HoC so far. Silgar and one of the 7.

Leoman has to know the dogslayers will only follow Dom. Arrogance and the belief in one's own destiny to lead?

Cotillion putting Kalam to shame, no wonder he's a god. Kalam seeing dead Bridgeburners. A renegade captain, indicating there's a lot more of them. Great scene with Kalam taking out the three Talons and then QB! to the rescue giving Kamist Reloe a screaming death he deserves. Coltaine has been one third answered. Dom and Rel still outstanding. Henaras butchered on a table.

Kalam finding out about WJ and the BBs in the worst of ways. Gut punch. Dom only trussed up and not killed. Like Silgar before him I wonder at the wisdom of letting a snake live.

Karsa tearing away Bidithal's manhood. Witness! Sweet justice. Shoving his the bloody mess into his mouth. Then Hood granting him an eternity of hell for his crimes. Best ending of a character perhaps ever. Come on Veronica, you've come around, at least a little. :)

I love Cotillion and Lostara's little banter sessions. I'm really appreciating Lostara so much more in this re-read. I think she's entered that pantheon of favorite female characters. Apsalar is definitely in there as well.

Febryl also falls to Karsa. Compared to Bidithal that was kind. We now see TCG and the Seven realizing too late just how poorly they have chosen. "I, Karsa Orlong, yield to none." He was expecting the hounds.

Gamet, a time of blankness, then standing weighted in his armor. A dragon winged helmed warrior urging him to ride with them to glory as a soldier. Archaic armour all around. Not able to completely hear as they butcher the dogslayers. The butterflies of Coltaine's last battle returning to bear witness.

I have to confess the first time through I didn't understand Gamet was one of the dead souls fighting his last battle. The second time through I have to say this is one of the finest written segments. The Dogslayers retribution coupled with Gamet's rebirth and finally his acknowledgement that he had moved on. So many emotions.

And we finally hear what we've suspected from Fid, the Bridgeburners have ascended. Kimloc foreseeing the future by looking into Raraku's past of the First Empire and elevating the BBs who were born in Raraku.

Leoman to leave for Y'Ghatan. Remember this was a siege where Dassem Ultor fell to Surley's plots. The battle a bit of a disaster for the Malazans. Much like WWI and WWII we see the same combatants fighting for the same parcels of land with the same battle names.

QB giving us all the pieces to the ascension of the Bridgeburners. The BBs to become the T'lan Imass? Interesting that the hounds have that same unearthly affect that Rake has.

The Karsa vs the Hounds scene was so awesome. I have a greater appreciation for how he describes both of their thoughts and motivations. You know it's bad when QB and Kalam flee.

Another great Greyfrog monologue.

The HoC officially sanctioned. TCG now bound by rules. "why would Toblakai step into their path, never mind, because he's Toblokai." LOL, too true. Save the Felisin you can. Sha'ik looking to consume the other's soul.

So we find out who took out Henaras, in Pearl. Kalam giving Pearl two gifts. Dom and a well deserved beating. "The wizard was in no mood to talk", being QB.


(hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chapter 26

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This opening scene is why I don't dislike Felisin as others do. Yes she was petulant in DHG but this bearing of her soul, the dreams of childhood before her essence was stripped away, before she became a battered mad soul like the goddess herself is simply heartwrenching.

Karsa dragging the two hound heads behind his horse is just so Karsa. L'oric reiterating what a mistake TCG has made. L'oric too late as the goddess goes into battle.

So the goddess is a T'lan Imass who's husband slept with another woman who then killed all of her tribe. The story of Onrack, Kilava and Tool come full circle into this woman's broken spirit. Torn from the vow and set on her own vengeance. In the end she realizes only Leoman and Karsa she could trust.

Tavore to battle.

The goddess attacked by the Talon assassins and consumed by chains as the TCG ends that threat. Osric coming to save his son and take him back to the old keep, returning to Kurald Thyrllen.

Felisin suddenly alone. No Sha'ik to hold her up. Abandoned. Walking towards her betrayer, her sister. Blood the bond that cannot be broken. I appreciated the delicacy of this scene much more this time around but still feel it was abrupt in nature.

Leoman scattering the tribes at seeing Felisin fall. Karsa noting the Malazans don't cheer. Leoman's reasoning is wrong and Karsa knows it.

The Dogslayers all dead and the Crow Clan standard the only one standing, poetic. Lostara knows the truth. Through her sister. Pearl who previously I wouldn't have credited for compassion giving it to Tavore and letting the secret die there, a mercy as Tavore says unknowing. Pearl to take her back to the hilltop where the fire beset them, where it all started in Raraku.

Kindly and Pores as we expected were captured by the Dogslayers and not part of the Adjuncts company. Nether and Nil giving Tavore the full story of the dead army and Gamet. Bridgeburners setting them free, dead ones. Tavore out for justice.

Great scene with the Adjunct and Karsa, "You should be", LOL.

Ranal ever the idiot pursuing the rebels into the storm. The Liosan taking one more insult getting hammered by a genado. Stormy, Gessler and Truth were the ones who went through the Liosan realm not the 7 T'lan Imass. So the Silanda went through multiple warrens.

Corabb once again one lucky mother. Hedge saving Fidler. Ranal dead.

Sinn with revenge on Fayelle, promising to await at Hood's gate. Raraku is going to claim the warren for itself. The land rising up above all these ascendant forces to be an ascendant force itself.

So happy to have Fid, Kalam and Quick back together. The remaining BBs on this continent.

Pust running into Heboric and company was amusing as always, Greyfrog "Food!", LMAO.

Love the compassion Cotillion shows Baudin and recognizes that Hood did the same. Remember Baudin really was one of Dancer's Talons. Very sad scene with Felisin's demise. So Crokus has his path set which we'll pick up in The Bonehunters.

Karsa offering Siballe compassion. He once sought glory and now sees that foolishness. Witness, my brothers. One day I will be worthy to lead such as you. Witness.

(hide spoiler)]

Epilogue

(view spoiler)[
Trull meeting Minala. Onrack now knows his wife is dead. Trull's compassion for Onrack's loss. Calling out the T'lan Imass.

The epilogue ends and Trull's tale will be told in Midnight Tides.
(hide spoiler)]

[Andorion]

In

[Mayim]

In chains already. And waiting.

[Lundos]

In.

[Graeme]

I'll join in on this one.

[Graeme]

Was Karsa in DHG?

[Graeme]

Just bought the book on Kindle.

[Solseit]

I am joining again! It was where I left my re-read!

[Veronica]

I'll be here.

[Brian]

I’m in. But might be a bit late starting.

[Rick]

I’m sorry. I’ve had to move ahead of the proposed dates. I’ve found that reading other books in between these doesn’t work for me. I forget too much and that can’t happen in this series.

[jess]

I’m so excited! And I just can’t hide it!

Unfortunately for me, I’ve got Lord of Chaos to finish first.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Through chapter 2. Much easier reading this portion of the book this time around.

[Veronica]

I'm hoping to start later today.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Veronica wrote: "I'm hoping to start later today."

Cool. I have the first seven chapters done with notes. I got a really late start so I'm just doing notes on series impacting things for the most part. Luckily the first 4 chapters are all Karsa and they're really long so most of it is just his journey and change.

[Veronica]

I'm only on page 52 or so, so not even through all of chapter one, (view spoiler)[but Karsa is one arrogant little snot. Seems like he's the dupe too, not the father he's so ashamed of. I'm rather hoping one of his travelling companions kills him in his sleep, lol.

These seven "gods" of the Teblor seem like they're playing some sort of long con on the clans, warping their faith into...something. The clans sacrificing their children??? I wonder why/how Karsa was spared while his four siblings weren't. (hide spoiler)]

[Mayim]

I am starting tonight. As always thank you Scott for the summaries.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Mayim wrote: "I am starting tonight. As always thank you Scott for the summaries."

You're welcome.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Veronica wrote: "I'm only on page 52 or so, so not even through all of chapter one, but Karsa is one arrogant little snot. Seems like he's the dupe too, not the father he's so ashamed of. I'm rather hoping one of h..."

Karsa learns a lot on his journey. (view spoiler)[There were societies where culling children or setting them against each other was promoted. SE is taking this from a historical perspective. (hide spoiler)]

From your status update what was ridiculous?

[Veronica]

Scott wrote: ".From your status update what was ridiculous?"

The whole Karsa thing. (view spoiler)[Doesn't matter how many opponents he faces, he wins. I almost wonder why the story needs anyone else. Just set Karsa against the hordes and in no time flat he'll be surrounded by hundreds of dead bodies. He can even throw off a mage's magic. I'm surprised he can't fly or shoot lasers out of his ass. And if gets to rape more women along the way, all the better for him. (hide spoiler)]

Sorry. I'm just having a hard time getting through this long Karsa introduction and it's making me grumpy. Aside from getting some small interesting tidbits about the history of the Teblor, I'm just not interested in Karsa's character. I'm skimming the fight scenes and I've not done that with this series before.

[Veronica]

I'm through the end of chapter two, read your summary Scott and yes, FINALLY seeing (view spoiler)[the word "Malazan" was like...

(hide spoiler)]

[Graeme]

35% in.

[1] I enjoyed Karsa's story. It was certainly a stylistic departure for SE to write what amounts to a novella at the beginning of this book. I figure Karsa must have a big future to warrant such detailed attention.

[2] So now we know (view spoiler)[who did the Tiste Edur in the flooded warren. (hide spoiler)] neatly filling in some backstory there.

[3] I have no idea who the strong guy was who punches Karsa and breaks his ribs, and how he fits in. But I'm suspecting he's (view spoiler)[associated with Kellvaned and Laseen, and the associated fall outs. (hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Veronica wrote: "
The whole Karsa thing. [spoilers removed"

I don't pretend the Karsa chapters were easy so I kind of figured that was it. All I can say is he and the reader both need the transformation. There's a social message there and in some of Karsa's future actions and points. I'll also say with near certainty when you reevaluate Karsa down the road your opinion will change again and again. Nothing in this world is simple or as it might seem initially.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Graeme wrote: "35% in. "

Yes to all three of your spoilers.

[Graeme]

Scott wrote: "Veronica wrote: "
The whole Karsa thing. [spoilers removed"

I don't pretend the Karsa chapters were easy so I kind of figured that was it. All I can say is he and the reader both need the transfor..."

That's the great thing about character development, they can progress, re-evaluate their world view, even their values and start making different decisions.

There are some very dramatic shifts in character so far. I mean Tattersails dies and get's reborn, same with Ganoes Paran, in fact it happens a lot.

[Graeme]

Scott wrote: "Graeme wrote: "35% in. "

Yes to all three of your spoilers."

On the third one there were the (view spoiler)[Napans associated with Laseen, who leave her. (hide spoiler)] I still feel really 'gappy,' around my understanding of that part.

[Veronica]

I totally get what you guys are saying about character development but...(view spoiler)[rape is extremely difficult for me to overlook or forgive or forget. Him giving the blood oil to that last woman was basically the Teblor version of roofie-ing her. I 100% realize that this is an accepted, I guess, part of his culture - though I'd really like to get into the minds of the Teblor women and see how accepting of it they really are - but that doesn't make it acceptable to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Veronica wrote: "I totally get what you guys are saying about character development but...[spoilers removed]"

I don't think the author or myself are saying it's acceptable. (view spoiler)[ I have all daughters. Trust me it's 100% unacceptable. Your roofie analogy is spot on. SE is making us look at the horrors from this world into our own. It's not pretty. Karsa isn't a perfect character and he never. However as barbaric as he is his character will come to point out just how uncivilized civilization is. You probably won't ever come to like him but I think you'll acknowledge his growth and things that he does. The second message being that anybody can change.

BTW wait until you get to Dust of Dreams. There some things "civilization" does that had me cringing and as much as I hated the things Karsa did it never brought me to a physical reaction the way those did. (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

Scott wrote: "I don't think the author or myself are saying it's acceptable."

Oh I know that! I didn't mean to imply otherwise. I was just juxtaposing my stance with that of Karsa and the Teblor culture.

I'm just mad that I've come across a section of Malazan lore where I feel like I'm having to slog through it...although, given the length of these books it's something of a miracle that this hasn't happened before. Because even though Felisin annoyed me to no end, I was still interested in what was happening around her so the pages still flew by. I am hoping, though, that once I'm done with this book things will have developed enough to make these first 263 pages of Karsa shenanigans (in my mmp version) feel like less of a chore on future re-read.

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for DoD, lol. It's going to be hard to top (view spoiler)[cannibalism and the whole children-of-dead-seed thing. (hide spoiler)] I'm scared to see what that could be. I'm glad though that Erikson doesn't romanticize war.

[Rob]

Ok, who took the book out of the Mid-Hudson Library system!? Only copy is out.

Only one I don't own, so time to buy it anyway :)

The first time I read this book, I found it rather frustrating with the focus on Karsa especially coming off of Memories of Ice and wanting those plot lines to continue. Pretty sure I'll enjoy it more this time and will be the hunt for more long-term hints.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I was the same way Rob.

Veronica, the DoD scenes I'm talking about are for me the most cringeworthy thing I've ever read barnone. Angela and Miche are starting that one soon I'll be interested to see their opinion. Sean who previously read the entire series wasn't as affected by it as I was.

[Veronica]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I'm somewhere in chapter 3 (lord but these are long chapters!) and Torvald Nom is totally saving this last bit of part one for me. Things are looking up! :-)

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Karsa does grow on the reader. He really goes through a transformation. I felt with this one that yes the long Karsa chapter was a slog. It was also the first time in the series that we were with one character for so long.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

There's no doubt these chapters are endlessly long and a slog. It's the only time in the series we get this approach. The good news Veronica is there is payoff at the end of chapter 4 which ends the Karsa only campaign. After that you get to catch up with some familiars. :)

[Graeme]

Veronica wrote: "I totally get what you guys are saying about character development but...[spoilers removed]"

Completely understandable. In fact, Karsa's development is dramatic over his novella. But what we are seeing on display is fully within Teblor culture and that's "just the way it is for them," they are a savage and violent people who (view spoiler)[sacrifice their own children, and lots of them (hide spoiler)] plus also there are their gods (view spoiler)[ operating behind the scenes and pushing these people for their own hidden agenda. I.e. I've got no idea what the Teblor gods are working to. (hide spoiler)]